Isabelle St. Sill, recognized as the first trans woman to participate in Miss Maine’s American pageant, shared insights about her connection with Jordon Hudson, who is currently facing negative media scrutiny following their competition in Portland this past weekend.
In a recent interview, St. Sill, who made it to the top 10 semi-finalists, discussed Hudson’s guidance on navigating the media backlash they both experienced.
“We had a talk behind the scenes, and they mentioned how unkind the media had been,” St. Sill, 24, representing Monson, reflected. “I really appreciated their willingness to discuss the media coverage with me.”
Hudson, also 24, emphasized the importance of researching media outlets before giving interviews and being cautious about who was writing stories.
The two, amid swirling media narratives fueled by their connection to UNC football coach Bill Belichick, agreed there was “no bad blood” stemming from the conflicting headlines directed at them.
“The media’s portrayal—like ‘the first trans woman vs. Jordon Hudson’—added a lot of pressure,” St. Sill noted, referencing the sensationalized coverage that included Belichick in attendance.
Support for Hudson was highlighted during an interview with CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” where co-coaches stood by him, indicating they avoided delving into how they met.
Reports later emerged suggesting Hudson was attempting to leverage Belichick’s influence to enhance his own reputation.
“That night, we felt more at ease,” St. Sill remarked about their discussions. “We wanted to clarify that we were happy to compete and wanted nothing to do with the drama.”
Both St. Sill and Hudson anticipated backlash due to their identities during the pageant.
“I think she understood that I wasn’t the only one facing this,” St. Sill said, explaining that Hudson acknowledged the negativity that surrounded them as they competed. “I felt a lot of pressure from critics who believed I didn’t belong there.”
Their first meeting took place at a previous pageant held at Holiday Inn Portland, where both were silently questioning how to cope with the surrounding media chaos.
Both contestants advanced to the semi-finals on the final day of competition, with Hudson finishing third behind runner-up Mara Carpenter and Maine Miss America winner Shelby Howell.
Upon leaving the pageant, they were spotted holding hands, catching the attention of onlookers.
Belichick is expected to make an appearance on ESPN Tuesday and follow up with an interview on “Good Morning America” on Friday, though it’s unclear whether Hudson will join him.
